Petition to Review the Singapore Education System

[coast]

Chenonceau:

Yes... high standards are good. But when the standards rise beyond the ability of the school teachers and school materials to teach, then either
(1) we get BETTER school teachers
(2) BETTER textbooks
(3) or we bring down the difficulty of the PSLE

They should benchmark exam standards to teacher ability to teach, and thus ensure that
(1) teachers are not stressed
(2) children who are bright and work hard don't fail in the absence of tuition
(3) parents don't have to spend long hours at work and come home to pick up the teaching slack

Hi Chenonceau,

Thanks for another well-written post

I agree with you on BETTER textbooks. If MOE can standardise the textbooks and supporting materials that are SUFFICIENT for PSLE, it creates a level-playing field for all students regardless of their background (whether parents can afford enrichment classes or tuition) or school (top or neighbourhood). I don’t recall having to do/ buy assessment books during my days and I came from a neighbourhood primary school, yet quite a number of my class made it to the top 10% of our cohort. Why isn’t MOE doing it if it is something so obvious to many parents and teachers? I also found out recently that they do not even publish PSLE past years’ papers (selected questions by topics are available but not the entire paper). I would not be surprised that MOE is aware and has gone through some deliberation on these issues. It would certainly help if MOE can explain the rationale.

About BETTER school teachers, in the context of primary school, I do not think capability is an issue if the teachers have a supportive environment (which includes BETTER textbooks and supporting materials).

On the difficulty of the PSLE, are you referring to schools’ tests/ exams or PSLE? I understand that schools (especially top schools) usually set their bar high for their internal exams. Maybe PSLE is reasonable in terms of difficulty (minus a few questions which are more challenging)? Perhaps parents who have gone though the PSLE past years’ papers (by topics) could comment on the difficulty of those questions (it’s back to the question why MOE does not publish the entire PSLE past years’ papers). Personally, I think the crux of the problem is PSLE T-scores, we do not know what a raw score of 90 (which I would put it as an easy paper) would translate into as it depends on how well the cohort performs. Many parents are spending tonnes of money and efforts on enrichment/ tuition because they do not know whether a 90 is good enough, especially when the school tells them it is below average of the class.

Btw, any respond from MOE regarding your petition? Sorry if I have missed it if you have already posted it here. Thanks.

[Chenonceau]

Deleted

[Chenonceau]

coast:

Btw, any respond from MOE regarding your petition? Sorry if I have missed it if you have already posted it here. Thanks.

I was invited to lunch... and am waiting for action. I could not go for a 2nd dialogue session where MOE had wanted to unveil plans... and get our feedback. The govt is very sincere about listening and doing something about our problems. We need to give it time... and work with it.

Until such a time where the govt demonstrates bad faith, I won't be over negative.

[coast]

Chenonceau:

coast:

Btw, any respond from MOE regarding your petition? Sorry if I have missed it if you have already posted it here. Thanks.

I was invited to lunch... and am waiting for action. I could not go for a 2nd dialogue session where MOE had wanted to unveil plans... and get our feedback. The govt is very sincere about listening and doing something about our problems. We need to give it time... and work with it.

Until such a time where the govt demonstrates bad faith, I won't be over negative.

Glad to know that something is working in progress Yes it certainly takes time to change something so important to our kids, lots of deliberation is necessary with many stakeholders.

I am already seeing the benefits of removing P1/P2 exams for my DS as his teachers are making good efforts in his school. However, the same policy did not work for some parents as different schools implement it differently:-

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=18542&start=100

[Chenonceau]

coast:

About BETTER school teachers, in the context of primary school, I do not think capability is an issue if the teachers have a supportive environment (which includes BETTER textbooks and supporting materials).

This is a good point. If a system were set up to share (on the internet) high quality materials developed by teachers on the ground, and these teachers were rewarded per download, you would have many teachers staying IN the system and writing up good stuff for the nation's children. These good writers would not have to leave the service to make money.

coast:

On the difficulty of the PSLE, are you referring to schools’ tests/ exams or PSLE? I understand that schools (especially top schools) usually set their bar high for their internal exams. Maybe PSLE is reasonable in terms of difficulty (minus a few questions which are more challenging)? Perhaps parents who have gone though the PSLE past years’ papers (by topics) could comment on the difficulty of those questions...

I am referring to my own son's school tests and exams. He isn't in a Top School. His exams are no less difficult though... But the materials he needs to get to that standard is lacking.

[Chenonceau]

See link below for MOE's response to the petition (and other letter writers and blog writers... not just us)


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26209&p=592470#p592470

[Rangie]

This is a very interesting analogy to the government, on how they should revamp the education system.


Too many scholars, coming in and out, each of them want to add new programme and don't remove old programme, kids are overloaded.

http://parenting-talk.blogspot.com/2011/06/daddys-advice-to-new-minister-of.html

Another article on the Singapore education system in the same blog:

http://parenting-talk.blogspot.com/2010/06/daddys-view-on-education-system-in.html

[toddles]

Chenonceau


I read this article and thought of you. The line that jumped out at me was \"wear your zeros proudly\". But how many of us can say that in the face of the Singaporean system and the pressures of a predominantly Asian society?

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/03/23-8

[Chenonceau]

toddles:

Chenonceau


I read this article and thought of you. The line that jumped out at me was \"wear your zeros proudly\". But how many of us can say that in the face of the Singaporean system and the pressures of a predominantly Asian society?

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/03/23-8

How come I missed this? Thanks Toddles... for sharing. I particularly liked the phrase \"testing... a fungus on the foot of public education\". Can you smell the stinky foot?

[toddles]

welcome! We’re practically family here, on ksp eh?